Improvement in brick-kilns



PATENT HENRY W. ADAMS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-KILNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 92,770, dated July 20, 1869.

l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. ADAMS, of Philadelphia, in the county of PhiladelphiaJ and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brick-Kilns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a kiln 5 Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section; and Fig. ,la horizontal section near the bottom of the v1 n.

The same letters in all the gures indicate identical parts.

My present invention relates to additional improvements in briek-kilnsof the class shown in my Letters Patent dated July 2i, 1865; and consists in certain alterations and improvements, to be specifically pointed out in the following specilica-tions and claims.l

In the annexed drawings, A is the body of the kiln, which is formed of a permanent wall ol' brick, with an interlining of fire-brick or other suitable refractory material, and which may be constructed with air-'chambers between the walls to prevent the loss of heat by radiation. The kiln is subdivided into compartments. I have shown a kiln constructed with four compartments, which I regard as a convenient and economical number in practice. These compartments are indicated by the letters B, B1, B2, and B3. In the front and rear walls I construct two rows of furnaces, C C', furnished with grate bars in the ordinary form, in which the fires are lnaintained, the .beat passing back with the draft into and through the several compartments into which the furnaces respectively open, the draft passing through the perforated walls F1 opposite to the furnaces. rlhese grates are placed below the level of the hearth ot' the kiln, in the -lower tier, and protected behind by bridgewalls in the upper tier, and immediately behind the grates, leaving an interval of, say, eighteen inches, I build the pigeon-hole wall A1, forming' between it and the front wall a chamber through which the heat rises from the furnace to be equally distributed through the kiln, which it enters through the pigeonholes. A partition, A2, across this chamber,

immediately below the upper furnaces, prevents the passage of heat or flame from one to the other tier. In order to facilitate and equalize the draft as much as possible, I pile the bricks in rows, made regular by placing a board between the Yrows as they are successively piled in the kiln, and when, say, two or three rows standing on edge have been added, and, when an entire layer has been completed,

placing another row of bricks resting on their faces over these as riders, and then drawing out the boards, so as to form continuous tlues extending in right lines entirely across the kiln. Narrow spaces left between lthe crossbricks allow thel heat to ascend from vthe furnaces through the mass of bricks piled in the kiln. Gare should also be taken, in piling the bricks in the kiln, to leave a continuous vertical opening above the side furnaces H, for the rapid diffusion of the heat thereof, for purposes to be hereinafter explained.

Over the furnaces I propose to place steamgenerators in such position that, receiving the action of the tires, steam may be generated therein. l have indicated in Fig. 2, at D, cylindrical boilers built into the walls across and immediately above the series of furnaces. It

is obvious, however, that the form and location of these generators may be varied, and I do not confine myself to the use of any particular form or location of steam-generator.

E is a continuous partition extending across the entire length of the kiln, and F a transverse partition. `The former is a solid Wall,

but the latter is composed of a series of walls. 'p

The outer wall F1 forms the. back of the compartment. It is perforated with a series ot' holes, through which the draft passes. Theseholes I prefer to make of a constantly increasing diameter from bottom to top, so that the holes at the top, where the draft and heat are least, may be the largest, thereby tending to produce a more uniformi circulation and temperature through the entire body of the compartment.

stead of making the wall E solid, it would b e nade of two walls, say, sixteen feet apart, to form a passage-way through the kiln and admit of the introduction of side furnaces oppo-. site the furnaces H shown in the drawings. Perforated walls F2 are built within the walls In large kilns, in.

F1. The perforations in the walls F1 and F2 are respectively so arranged that the perforations of each shall be opposite the solid spaces of the other, so that the draf't in in passing through the perforations and through the chambers between the walls into the-line I, shall be thoroughly intermingled as it passes from different parts of the kiln, and `the draft equalized thereby. The wall F2 tends to form a vacuum-chamber behind it, and thereby equalize the draft at the bottom and top of the kiln. The pigeon-holes in the wall F2 also increase in diameterv from bottom to top.

- The solid wall F3 divides entirely the compartments B and B1 from the compartments B2 and B3, except as the compartments B and Bz and B1 and B3 are respectively connected by flues l opening through the said partition F3, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully explained.

The steam-generators supply steam which l 'is carried to the various parts of the kiln j through a system of steam-pipes, G. Branch 'pipes G1 are carried from the main pipes, and

so directed as to drive a jet of steam into the upper parts of the furnaces above the fuel, which jets force back the heat in a strong draft into the body of the kiln. The steam impinging against the walls and bricks forming the ues within the kiln most exposed to the heat takes up a portion of the surplus heat, and, becoming superheated, carries the heat to the more remote parts ofthe compartment and thus tends to produce l-a more per- 'Another pipe, G4, with branches G5 and G6,

leads under the hearth, discharging their jets `in opposite directions, for purposesto be explained hereafter, while still other pipes G7 and GB are arranged to discharge'jets upyrard into the chimneys, for tlie purpose of increasing the draft. All of these pipes are 'iitted with stop-cocks to control the force of jets, or shut off the'steam entirely.

Furnaces H are placed in the sides of the kiln, the object of which is to add to the heat ofthe back portion of the bricks in the kilns,

` forl the purpose of more equally burning the same.

The res'in these furnaces I do not proposeto maintain continuously, but to kindle the same toward the latter part of the operation, in order that the bricks in the front part of the kilnrinay not'be overburned while i those in the back are being finished. The

passage left for the ascent of the heat immediately above the side furnaces is intended to facilitate the uniform and immediate transmission of the heat through the ,whole of the back part of the kiln. In order also to effect the uniform burning of the bricks, I propose t0 contract the back part of the compartments, as shown by the lines E' Ef, Figs. 1 and 3. By this eans the heat, more diffused in the front part of the kiln, where its intensity is greatest, is concentrated in the back part of the kiln, by the contraction of the draft within narrower limits.

I and 1' are two lues in each set of compartments, the former connecting from the space between the walls F1 and F3 of the compartments B and B1, s0 as to lead the draft from theV said compartments under the hearth K, while the dues I lead from the "space between the walls F1 and F3, communieating with. the compartments B2 and B3, and

into the chamber under the hearth or drying-` The two chimneys L and L are respectively i placed, as shown in Figs. l and 3, so as to carry away the gas and cause a draft. To increase the force of this draft, the pipes G8 `are placed in the chimney opening upward,

so that the jet ofsteam passing therefrom may increase the draft by tending to produce a Vacuum. f i

Other chimneys M M are placed in the front and rear walls. rlhey are built from the ground, passing up through the space between the furnaces, and between Ithe exterior wall A, and interior pigeon-hole wall A1. They serve to afford a natural draft in heating the furnaces before the water in the steamgeneratorsis sufficiently heated, and also serve as partition-wallsto separate the chambers formed in and between the double walls in front and rear into compartments, and prevent the greater pressure incident to an increase ot the steam-jet in one of the furnaces over that of an adjoining one, from operating to force the gases from one into the other. These chimneys also serve as huttresses to support the wall A1. They are constructed lwith pigeon-holes opening through their Walls,

so that the draft passing through the corresponding openings in the interlining A1 of the walls may be conducted into the chimney. The pipes G7 are introduced into these chimneys to operate in thesame manner, and for same purpose, as the similar pipes G in the chimneys L and L, as already explained. Instead `of making these chimneys open upward,

l can close their tops and open their lower ends into under-ground lues, and draw the i Fig. 3, to close the 'fines I and Il when required. Other dampers are placed in the fines. i leading into the chimneys L and L', as shown at O and O', Fig. 3, so as to shut off either of the channels leading into these chimneys, as may be desired.

I cover the kilns, when filled, by laying on the top two plaiting courses of unburned bricks, breaking joints, and then a top plaiting course of burned bricks, breaking joints with the one beneath it, and then seal the joints of the top course with clay, made plastic with water, and then cover the whole with earth to the depth of, say, eight inches, which hermetically seals the kiln.

The following modications should be adopted with reference to the construction of large kilns: A

It will be perceived that each kiln has a side fire-place. When I build large and long kilns I leave a gangway between each pair, the rear ends of which may unite or be separated by a gangway. This gangway is sixteen feet wide, more or less, to give room to pass and lire the sides. Then I put in a tireplace on both sides of each kiln. Sometimes I put in two or three fire-places on each side, one above the other, as shown in the front end. When my kilns are very long I put in several tiers of lire-places at different distances apart, one above the other, and on both sides ofthe kiln opposite each other. The first side fire-places are ten feet, more or less, from the front end of the kiln. The next ones are about the same distance from the rst, and so onto the end of the kiln. I place them closer together or farther apart, according to the size, height, and length of my kilns. Across the kiln when set, from the fire-places on one side to those opposite, I leave a break or space about a foot wide, more or less, for the hot products of combustion to accumulate in from the opposite dre-places, and from thence to enter the honey-comb of the kiln in the direction of the rear end. In order to prevent these hot products of combustion from one tier of fire-place blowing through this break, space, or chamber into the opposite fire-places, and also to prevent them from rising up from the lower fire-places and iowing back out of the top ones immediately over them, I divide this chamber into founor more separate chambers, one for each lire-place, and thus cut olf communication with each other. This I do by turning an arch over the bottom. chamber about halt' way from the bottom to the top of the kiln, and between the two fire-places, and

another one on the top of the kiln, and then by setting up a partition in the center of these arches, dividing them in the middle, the four or more (from the bottom to the tcp ofthe kiln) separate chambers are complete. The kilns are set thus with unburned bricks, leavin g the tlues through all the sections from the front to the Arear of the kiln continuousfor draft. These chambers may be built with fire-bricks, and made permanent. When I do this I set two walls, with fines in them, about eighteen inches, more or less, apart, in the same method as l build the front pigeon-hole walls before the mouths of the fire-places in the front end of the kiln, to which reference is hereby made. By building a partition between them, between the bottom and top fireplaces, and also a division in the center from the bottom to the top of these walls, they form the four separate chambers, as described. Then the hot products of combustion drive into each separate chamber from each separate lireplace, and distribute themselves more diffusively and equably through the interstitial iues of the kiln in the direction of the draft.

The walls in front of the mouths of the end tire-places are pierced with flues, which represent the flues through the whole kiln when it is set. The. unburned bricks are set up against these walls, so as to continue the fines-shown in them through the whole kiln. These front walls I prefer to build permanently of tire-brick their ofce is to prevent the front ends of the kilns from falling down into the fire-places, and also to protect them from `the first intensity and damaging action ofthe heat-although the chimneys, or solid piers built in their places, would support the front end of the kiln from falling down, but would not protect them from the melting heat.

The mode of operating my improved brickkiln is as follows: The compartments having been filled with bricks, arranged as already described, and the dampers all closed, a fire is to be built in the furnaces of the compartment B, and maintained with an open draft through its chimneys M, until steam has been raised in the boilers connected therewith. The dampers N and O', and the steam-jets into these furnaces, and the jets into chimney L, are then opened, and a strong draft thereby created, which forces the draft through lthe perforations in the back wall F1 of kiln B, and down through the chamber within the wall F, and through the flue I, and open damper N into the space below the hearth. Traversin g the tortuous ues under the hearth, the draft, consisting of what is calledrwatersmoke, that is, the unconsumed products of combustion, mingled with steam produced by injection and byevaporation from the damp bricks, is carried forward and discharged through the'chimney Ll. The draft may be increased by opening the jet G, and by opening the jetpipe G5, which discharges its jet into the Hue in the direction of the draft. If the hearth is not to be heated by opening the damper O, and closing the damper O', the

draft will pass out immediately through the chimney L. This operation is continued until the water-smoke ceases to pass by reason of the drying of the bricks, which period can be readily determined by any one skilled in the art of observation. The dampers O and O being then both closed, and the jets G5 1 shut off, and the damper N1 and the steamjets in the chimneys M of kiln B2 opened, the draft will be carried out through the ue l, and back again through the iue I', which, passing through the partition-wall F3 and through the chambers between the latter and the perforatedwalls F2 and F1, emerges through the holes in the said walls and enters the compartment B2. I

'Ihe holes being, as already explained, larger at the top than at the bottom, there will be an equal amount of heat entering at all parts, as the smallest orifices are at the place of maximum pressure. The draft passing through the flues between the bricks in compartment B2 escapes through the chimneys M, and this operation will be continued untilthe bricks in the compartment B are sufficiently burned and settled, by which time the water-smoke will have disappeared from the compartment B2, when tires are kindled in the furnaces of compartment B2, the flue N and the jets in the chimneys M elosed,and these chimneys closed by dampers and the damper-N3, and the jets in the chimneys M of kiln B1 opened, so that the draft of the compartment B2, passing through tlue l', shall traverse the flue under the hearth and pass through the flue I into compartment B1,` in which the bricks are dried, as bcforefuntil the fires are kindled in the furnace of this compartment, and the draft N2 being opened, the waste heat be carried into compartment B3, as before described; then B1 is iired. In the meantime, the compartment B having become cool, by opening the damper N,and been emptied, is again filled with green bricks, and the Waste heat from compartment B3 used to dryI the bricks therein, and so on in succession. The kilns may be used in series inwdeiinitely. The jets G5 and G6 are used alternately, according as the draft is flowing in one direction or the other. The chimney not in use' should also be closed by dampers.

\Vhen a kiln has been burned and settled, I utilize the heat contained therein by opening the flue leading therefrom, and drawing the heat therefrom under the drying-Hoor, by opening the jets in one of the chimneys, or drawing it through one of the other kilns filled with green brick, to draw oli' the watersmoke.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement, in a brick kiln, of furnaces with jets of steam discharging into the furnaces, both above and below the lires, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the furnaces C C', arranged in tiers in the front ofthe several burningcompartments B B1 B2, 86e., the furnaces H, placed in the sides of the kiln, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. rIhe kiln, when constructed with the side walls E', converging from front to rear, and

also with a rear pigeon-holed 'wall, substan- B1, B2, and B3, and dues I L', and fines under i the hearth K, as shown, and dampers N N1, Ste., and O O', substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a kiln or kilns 'and hearth K, under which the draft is made to pass, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The chimneys M M', constructed as described, arranged to serve not only as uptakes for the kilns, but also to form bulk-heads between the furnaces, and also butressesto sup port the inner Wall A, substantially as set forth.

9. The arrangement, within the iiue under the hearth, of steamjets Gr6 and G6, to discharge jets of steam in either direction, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 10. The "combination of a series of kilns with intercommunicating tlues, and a series of steam-jets for carrying the surplus heat from one kiln into another, for utilization, substantially in the manner set forth.

11. The combination in a kiln, substantially as described, of a burning-chamber, as shown, and a draft-chamber, formed in the rear thereof, between the solid wall F and pigeon-holed wall F1, substantially in theV manner and for the purpose set forth.

12. The pigeon-hole wall A1 and partitions A2, arranged in relation to the front wall and furnaces substantially as set forth. y

13. rIhe arrangement, in connection with the furnaces of a kiln, of a steam-generator, so that the same fire which burns the brick shall generate the steam, when combined with the series of pipes t0 conduct th steam from said generator and discharge it into the 'series of furnaces and iues, substantially in the manner set forth.

14. In combination with two tiers or sets of furnaces, as herein shown, interposed partitions A2, to forni subdivisions of the draft-chamber, to prevent the interference of one furnace or set of furnaces with another, substantially as set forth.

15.*The burning-chambers of' a kiln, con-` structed with converging side walls, and having, also, communicating lines, through which the heat is conducted from the rear of one chamber, passing thence into the rear of an other burning-chamber, to esoape at the combustiou end of sztid last-named chamber, substantially as set forth.

Y 16. The rear partition Wall or wa1ls,oo11 struoted with pigeon-holes increasing in diameter, iu series, from bottom to top7 substantiztlly as and for the purpose set forth. 

